How to Delay Your Period

Your period can seem immensely confusing. When you want it to start right away, it seems to be delayed by several weeks. When you want it to begin later, it suddenly starts early.

Sometimes, there are occasions where you want your period to wait until later to begin. Often, these events could be things like a wedding, a honeymoon or a romantic holiday. You may also want your period to be delayed before a few days of heavy traveling or for a swimming competition. If you are looking for how to delay your period, there are some options available that can help.

How to Delay Your Period Naturally

While there are medical options that your doctor can do to help delay your period, it is generally better to go with natural options first. You want to work with your body instead of against it, and medical options may change how regular your period is in future months. To get started, try using these natural treatment options.

1. Herbal Options

For centuries, herbs were used to stimulate abortions, prevent diseases and treat illnesses. It is unsurprising that some natural herbs would still be used to delay your period from happening. Some herbal options available include yarrow (Shepherd’s Purse). If you are using the actually herb, grin it into a powdered form. Afterward, add some water and consume a little of it. Yarrow is known for helping to limit menstrual bleeding, and it may also be effective at postponing your cycle. Like any herbal supplement, you should talk to your doctor about the possible risks and about the correct dosage before you try this method.

2. Lemons

Lemons are not just great to eat! They have acidic properties that may help to delay your period. According to folk medicine, chewing on a lemon can help to postpone your period. It is also thought to reduce period-related problems like pain, tenderness and inflammation. Since many people dislike the sour taste of lemons, you can always squeeze a lemon into a glass of water and consume it that way.

3. Watch What You Eat

There are some foods that are known to bring on your period early. Since this is the opposite of what you want, you should avoid these foods. Avoid eating papaya, garlic, peppers, ginger and sesame unless you want your period to arrive early. Other foods like lentils and raspberry leaves can cause your menstruation to be delayed. Food can affect your hormones, which means that watching what you eat can help modify your hormones. For the ultimate period-delaying treatment, try a cup of raspberry leaf tea with lemon juice.

4. Try Gelatin

Gelatin is thought to help delay menstrual cycles. While this could just be an urban myth, there is no harm in trying this old wives’ tale. Dissolve a packet of gelatin in warm water before drinking it. Do this two to three times a day. According to believers, this will help to delay your period.

5. Exercise a Lot

Physical exercise and dieting can cause your period to be delayed naturally. Often, Olympic athletes will stop having a menstrual cycle because they work out so much. When you exercise frequently, it raises your testosterone levels and reduces your estrogen levels. To get this benefit, try doing exercises like biking, swimming, weight lifting or gymnastics.

6. Use a Natural Progesterone Cream

While you can get a progesterone cream from your doctor, there are also natural, over-the-counter creams that you can try on your own. Normally, your progesterone levels will rise on their own during the first half of your menstrual cycle. After ovulation, progesterone levels decrease. When progesterone levels fall, it indicates to your body that your period should be started. To prevent this signal from happening, try using a natural progesterone cream for a few day to keep your levels up. You can use this cream when ovulation is starting and apply about a quarter of a teaspoon two times each day. Once you are ready for your period to start, you should discontinue using the cream.

7. Stress

When you are under stress, it can impact your hormonal levels. By reducing your stress, you can get your menstrual cycle to be under control again.

8. Breast Massage

Some women have had success with this method. While it may be just an old wives’ tale, believers say that you should rub your fingers in a circular motion to give your breasts a massage. Do this 200 times a day using a mixture of clockwise and counterclockwise motions.

Doctor Prescribed Ways to Delay Your Period

If natural techniques are not enough for you—or if you want to be certain that your period starts after an expensive honeymoon—, you can go to your doctor to get professionally prescribed treatments. Some of the options available to you include:

1. Birth Control

A disclaimer: you should always, always use birth control properly if you want to prevent a pregnancy. If you do not want to become pregnant, disregard this tip.

If you are on birth control, you normally take three weeks of actual pills followed by a week of sugar pills. If you skip the off week and continue directly into the next set, your period will not start. This is not healthy for your body, and it may ultimately increase your chances of getting pregnant. It is highly, highly not recommended to do this. If you are certain that you want to go this route, talk to your doctor about it before you do anything.

2. Hormones

Hormones like norethisterone pills may help to postpone menstruation. Progesterone hormonal therapy can help increase progesterone so that your menstruation is delayed. Your doctor may also give you medication to get your period to start early—depending on when you specifically need to avoid menstruation, this could be a possible alternative.

3. Progesterone Supplements

If you are on birth control, your doctor may have you skip the withdrawal week of your pill. If you are not on birth control, your doctor may prescribe progesterone supplements. Like any medical change, you should always talk to your doctor before you make any changes. Some medications may not work well together, and it is important that you discuss any new program with your doctor before you risk your health by trying it.